Challenges&Solutions

For over 17 years, the Army has relied on ASTi products to facilitate individual and collective mission command training for Army Active Component (AC), Army National Guard (ARNG) and US Army Reserve (USAR).

Over time, the size and number of training sites increased, and the government expanded training requirements. The Army needed to reduce associated ownership costs and ease acquisition, administration, and sustainment tasks.

The challenge requirements are listed in blue; ASTi's applicable components are in black:

U.S. Army AVCATT training photo by Hiro Chang

Life Cycle Sustainment

The ELA forms a partnership that integrates ASTi’s support, engineering and management resources, operating as an extension of the customer’s staff. A dedicated ASTi program manager oversees the ELA and serves as a central liaison to the Army’s program office.

The ELA’s support package maintains operational effectiveness throughout the system’s life, reducing cost without compromising support. Under the ELA, ASTi shoulders the following critical services:

Software​ ​maintenance:​ ​provides regular updates, including the latest features, enhancements, and fixes. Releases include new and updated products, compatibility with updated operating systems, compliance with government IT standards, interoperability initiatives, and system performance advancements.

Onsite​ ​fielding​ ​services:​ ​include new equipment training courses and system test and validation. These services ensure systems are properly integrated into the site infrastructure, and the site staff are technically proficient.

License Expansion

ASTi responded to the Army’s expansion needs by offering a subscription-based ELA that provides unlimited distribution of licenses within the program’s scope. The ELA allows authorized users to freely download software licenses to meet demands for communications growth. The ELA covers these products:

Cost Reductions and Predictability

Provide a deeply discounted, fixed-price bundle of products and support services

ASTi's ELA subscription delivers exceptional value and savings over multiple years compared to traditional methods of purchasing separate software and services. The Army benefits from predictable costs during the contract term, regardless of license expansion or use of services.

Simplified Acquisition and Administration

Consolidate licenses and services into a simplified one-stop subscription

With a single annual purchase, the ELA streamlines the Army's procurement process and removes the complexity of managing multiple contracts. Customers can also easily provision new users without the overhead and budget impacts of buying additional licenses. At renewal, they can reevaluate their investment and adjust the new agreement to align with changing needs.